Harvard dining hall workers strike over wages, benefits

Harvard University Dining Services (HUDS) workers have been on strike every day since last Wednesday, claiming the university failed to meet their demands for fair wages and affordable health care.

Negotiators from the university and Local 26, the union representing HUDS workers, did not reach an agreement last Monday or Tuesday, according to union representatives. Tuesday, Oct. 4, marked the 19th session of bargaining since May 20.

Beginning at 6 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, picketers lined up outside dozens of locations across Harvard’s undergraduate and graduate campuses, chanting, "Hey, Harvard, you can't hide" and "no justice, no peace." The strike will continue until a fair agreement is reached, according to union representatives.

"We plan on striking as long as it takes," said James Thibodeau, who works at Currier House, one of 12 undergraduate residential houses of Harvard College, as he held signs along Massachusetts Avenue on Monday afternoon. "We'll be here every day, as long as they don't listen. We've had some feedback from students and it's very positive. They're upset with our management and how they're treating things."

The workers are demanding at least $35,000 a year in income and affordable health care.

“Harvard dining hall workers are asking Harvard to back off proposals that would make basic medical services, such as taking their kids to the doctor, prohibitively expensive,” read a Local 26 statement.

Harvard University representatives said in a written statement that union members were unwilling to contribute creative solutions at the negotiations table.

“Harvard’s negotiation team offered to stay though the night to continue to work on a deal, but Local 26 representatives left at 5:30 p.m.,” read the statement. “We are disappointed that they have been more interested in planning a strike than working on a solution that meets the needs of their members and the wider community.”

The university said the fact that an average tenure of a Harvard dining hall worker is 12 years is a testament to the quality of the employment.

“Harvard deeply values the contributions of its dining services employees, as evidenced by the fact that they receive some of the most generous hourly wages and benefits for food service workers in the region,” read the statement.

Union members said they’ve received overwhelming support from Harvard students. According to their written statement, the Harvard Crimson Editorial Board supported the strike, and Harvard Medical School students have called the university’s proposals unaffordable.

More than 3,300 signatures have been added to an online support petition, they said.

Attempted negotiations

In an attempt to negotiate, the university made the following offers, which the union rejected:

Health Care

- “A health insurance option with minor modifications to the insurance currently held by dining hall workers. … This plan would create a new tier for employees who make less that $55,000/year in which the university would pay 87 percent of premium costs.”

- OR The university has offered to contribute $25 million over four years for dining services workers to join Unite Here Health, the health insurance plan offered by Local 26.

Wages

- Increase average wage from $21.89 an hour to $24.08 over the life of the contract.

Summer Stipend

- Would be paid over summer break to employees, even if there are no shifts available to work:

$250 per week for employees with more than 20 years of service.
$150 per week for employees with 5 to 20 years of service.